Need help on lighting to get precise color

[merlysys]

I have to often take pics of tiles (floor/wall/bath/backsplash) to put on a web site and brochure. There are various genres of photography, but I cant find which one this falls under.
Top 15 Genres of Photography That you Need to Know
Anyone know?

I need to get the exact color reproduced on the website or brochure, made more challenging by tiles with multiple colors(mosaic).

Not an expert in photography, I have an engineering background and know what causes an object to have a specific color, color temperatures(K), how an object reflects/absorbs light. I have basic digital camera equipment, what kind of equipment and light will I need?

Also please provide some web links to some sites on this specific subject.

 

[Designer]

I have to often take pics of tiles (floor/wall/bath/backsplash) to put on a web site and brochure. There are various genres of photography, but I cant find which one this falls under.
Top 15 Genres of Photography That you Need to Know
Anyone know?

I need to get the exact color reproduced on the website or brochure, made more challenging by tiles with multiple colors(mosaic).

Not an expert in photography, I have an engineering background and know what causes an object to have a specific color, color temperatures(K), how an object reflects/absorbs light. I have basic digital camera equipment, what kind of equipment and light will I need?

Also please provide some web links to some sites on this specific subject.

Well, of course this is "product photography", which did not show up on your list, but generally speaking, you need to use only one type (color) of light, and capture the Raw file, so in case you need to tweek the colors, it will be more precise. I recommend using electronic flash, as the light is probably going to be white. For something that is mostly flat, you might need to use two lights positioned opposite each other, and probably at a 45 degree angle from the subject. This is the lighting that most reproduction photographers will use, which is very demanding work.

You can study up on flash photography by going to "The Strobist" website. It's free, and a very good source.

When you edit the photos on your computer, make sure your own display is properly calibrated. However you see the colors on your own computer may or may not show the same exact same colors on someone else's computer, but if yours is correct, then they can only blame their own equipment for any discrepancies.

 

[ac12]

You need to get a couple things.
Gray card, color card.
Shoot a pix of the gray card, exactly where the tiles are, or just to the side of the tiles. Then in your editing software, use the color adjust on the pix of the gray card.
The color card is a reference card with various colors on it. When you print, you match up the print to the color card.

The problem with tiles, is the lighting under which it will be seen in the home or office.
If you shoot with sunlight, flash or daylight lighting, it will look different than under incandescent or warm lighting in the home.
Your client will have to make the decision of how he wants the colors to look.

Describe the location that you are shooting in, and how much space you have.
Are the tiles vertical on the wall or stand, or flat on a counter?